If you do good work for good clients, it will lead to other good work for other good clients. If you do bad work for bad clients, it will lead to other bad work for other bad clients.
Michael BierutRead
If typography is calling attention to itself, it's taking that attention away from what the words are saying.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Typography should enhance the message of the words rather than distract from it.
In this quote, Michael Bierut emphasizes the importance of typography in communication. He argues that when typography draws too much attention to itself, it overshadows the actual content and meaning of the words, suggesting that good design should serve to support and amplify the message rather than detract from it.
Themes
TypographyDesignCommunicationWordsAttention
In practice
Example use cases
In a graphic design workshop, to explain the importance of layout, I might say, 'Remember, if typography is calling attention to itself, it's taking that attention away from what the words are saying.'
More from Michael Bierut
All quotes βSimilar quotes
Some of us are born with a weakness for music. As a baby, music would stop whatever thought I was having. If I was worried, it would stop me worrying; if I was crying, it would stop me crying. Music was a healing thing for me.
Andrea BocelliRead
When the woman you live with is an artist, every day is a surprise.
Audrey NiffeneggerRead
My hope is that we continue to nurture the places that we love, but that we also look outside our immediate worlds.
Annie LeibovitzRead
A truly good movie is enjoyable too. Thereβs nothing complicated about it.
Akira KurosawaRead
Whether it's a very dramatic part or a comical role, I feel I need to create the same thing: a full-fledged, three-dimensional character that the audience can identify with.
Christopher LloydRead
Some couture collections have everything including the kitchen sink! Everything gets thrown on to make it look expensive. I find it grotesque when clothes hit you in the face and there's no room for fault. But I don't expect to turn things around all by myself. I'm not a saint.
Alexander McqueenRead